Edward Stirling

Profile & Legacies Summary

1804 - 1873

Biography

Edward Stirling (1804-1873), the father of Sir John Lancelot Stirling and Sir Edward Charles Stirling, and himself a significant figure in the development of South Australia after his arrival there in 1839, has been identified as the son of Archibald Stirling of Keir (q.v.) with a creole woman of colour, possibly called Jeanne. According to this source, Archibald Stirling had nine children, 6 illegitimately (William, Edward, Henry, Mary, Ann, Helen) and 3 with Elizabeth Maxwell. Correspondence from Edward Stirling in Australia to his father Archibald Stirling of Keir, including acknowledgement in 1838 of the receipt by Edward Stirling of £1000 from Archibald on the eve of the former's departure to Australia as an acceleration of a planned legacy, is held at Glasgow City Archives.